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Read. Follow. Verify.Hearing on the Future of Social Security Numbers
Record date · January 1, 2019
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What This Bill Does
This House Subcommittee hearing examined the vulnerabilities of the Social Security number (SSN) as a primary tool for identity verification. Lawmakers and experts discussed the need to move away from using SSNs for due to widespread data breaches and the difficulty victims face when trying to obtain new numbers after theft.
The hearing explores potential policy shifts in how Americans prove their identity for financial and government services, which could eventually change how citizens interact with private businesses and federal agencies to prevent identity fraud.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Social Security Number holders
Individuals whose personal data security and ability to verify identity are impacted by the current reliance on SSNs.
Identity theft victims
People who must navigate the current, often difficult, administrative process to secure a new number after a breach.
Key Facts
- The Social Security number was originally created in 1936 solely to track earnings and determine benefits.
- SSNs are currently used as a primary identifier for employment, housing, and credit services.
- Recent federal policy changes include removing SSNs from military IDs and Medicare cards.
- Congress previously passed legislation to restrict federal agencies from mailing documents containing SSNs unless strictly necessary.
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- High-profile data breaches at organizations like Equifax, OPM, and Anthem have resulted in the theft of hundreds of millions of SSNs.
- The Subcommittee is investigating the current process for victims to obtain a new SSN after theft, which is described as overly burdensome.
- A specific case in Arizona was cited where a child was required to change their full name to qualify for a new SSN after theft.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Social Security numbers considered unsafe?
Is it easy to get a new Social Security number if mine is stolen?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Decoupling Identification and Authentication
The committee is actively exploring a shift in policy to stop using the same number for both identifying a person and proving their identity.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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